Finding the humor in nightmare job searches

Your Application Process Sucks!

I make it a priority to work on my job search for a couple of hours each day. Part of doing that involves checking out postings on various job boards that have positions that match my experience and background. The easiest to apply to of these postings are the ones that require a résumé submittal and maybe answers to the questions about criminal history and consent to background check if hired. I, of course, prefer applying to those types of postings with my 2nd favorite being those that allow me to apply via the particular job board; i.e. Careerbuilder, Monster or Indeed. That means I only have to attach my résumé and compose a cover letter–easy peasy! My 3rd favorite process would be iCims or Silkroad portals. What all of my favorites have in common is there is no portion that requires me to actually complete a job application, listing out my career history job by job or rather, copying and pasting my résumé job by job (-_-).

Am I the only person who HATES having to spend more than 10 minutes applying for a job when I know my submission may never even be viewed by a human being?! Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t an actual application usually only required if you get an interview and/or there is an offer? Why must I submit a résumé AND copy and paste each section to an application? Then said application will occasionally have those “required” questions that you must provide an answer to in order to proceed; questions you don’t want to nor should have to answer just to APPLY for the job: social security number, current salary, date of birth. I think I’m justified in using place filler answers in those sections just so I can move on and if that doesn’t work, I will abandon ship mid-application because by then I want to be dropkicked through the goalposts of life! My first inclination is usually to just skip applying for that job altogether because if the process to just apply to a job for your company is so horrendous, I can’t even fathom what it must be like to work there! I don’t need that headache in my life…

We all know that a certain percentage of job postings will: 1. never be viewed by an actual human; 2. probably be posted by one of many recruiters hiring for that same job; 3. already be filled but not yet removed; 4. be phantom jobs that don’t actually exist. So, forgive me if I don’t want to spend 30 minutes completing an application and taking a behavioral assessment for a job that I have such low odds of actually being interviewed for! My frustration knows no bounds when a job that sounds perfect in the job posting has an idiotic application process…I don’t understand, I have no understanding, I need to go to the store to pick up some understanding because I am fresh out!

Do you ever bail on an application due to inappropriate questions or because it’s too d*mned long? Release your frustration in the comments.